Tesla CEO Elon Musk recently talked about the much-anticipated next-generation Roadster sports car again, even saying that it “cannot be regarded as a car (not even really a car)”.
Last month, Elon Musk gave a rare update on the next-generation Tesla Roadster. A prototype of the car debuted in 2017 and was originally scheduled to go into production in 2020, but has been delayed since then. Elon Musk said the new prototype will be unveiled at the end of this year and is scheduled to go into mass production in 2025. At that time, Elon Musk once again emphasized his cooperation plan with SpaceX. He said that the car will be equipped with SpaceX’s cold air thruster (cold air thruster) to achieve faster acceleration performance, and may even complete 0 to 60 miles in 1 second. (Note: approximately 96.56 kilometers) per hour, making it the fastest mass-produced model in the world.
Today, Elon Musk revealed further details about the next-generation Roadster in an interview with Don Lemon. He reiterated his partnership with SpaceX, saying “you can expect some applications of rocket technology.” When Lemon asked if the Roadster would be a flying car, Elon Musk replied “maybe,” adding: “It’s going to have some kind of rocket technology. I think the only way it could be cooler than the Cybertruck is to combine a Tesla and a Cybertruck.” SpaceX’s technologies combine to create a product that goes beyond the concept of a car… something unheard of.”
Lemon mentioned “The Jetsons,” a 1960s science-fiction TV show that depicts futuristic flying cars, and said the concept of Roadster reminded him of the show, and Elon Musk agreed.
Elon Musk once again emphasized the next-generation Roadster’s impressive 0-60 mph acceleration time of less than 1 second. When asked whether the new Roadster would have a wing in the traditional sense, Elon Musk replied: “Not a big wing.”
When asked whether the next generation Roadster will have a steering wheel in the traditional sense, Elon Musk said: “Not exactly. It will use a wire-controlled Yoke steering wheel, similar to the control method of an airplane or a modern jetliner.” Tesla Steer-by-wire technology was previously used on Cybertruck, while Model S and Model X offer Yoke steering wheel options.
